Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Following the lead of the independent players, major oil firms Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Total (Philippines) Corp. announced they will slash prices of their liquefied petroleum gas by P4 a kilogram at midnight Tuesday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulation Board (LTFB) will implement a fare rollback in public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and passenger buses amid the continued decrease of oil prices in the global market. TFRB Chairman Thomson Lantion said the fare rollback will take place on December 8 at the earliest. Jeepney fares will be back to P7.50 for the first four kilometers from P8. Metro buses, meanwhile, will charge P8.50 for the first four kilometers instead of the current P9.

The National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) will press for a reduction of minimum jeepney and ordinary bus fare from P8 to P7 for the first five kilometers all over the country at the resumption of the hearing at the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Oil slid to a 3-½ year low under $48 on Tuesday, extending the previous day's sharp drop as signs grew the global economy is in worse shape than thought and after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) opted to delay talks on further output cuts.

The chief of police of the San Francisco Police Station in Camotes Island and the policemen under him are facing possible charges if it will be proven that they abandoned their posts last November 12, 2008.

THE businessman who claimed ownership of P2.9 million worth of US dollar bills dumped and later partially recovered at the Inaya-wan landfill yesterday got what remained of his cash. Emiliano Tanpin Jr., together with Rossana Tanpin-Poraque, went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 headquarters yesterday and presented an affidavit of ownership executed before lawyer Noelo Bacalla, a notary public.

Business organizations and the banking community have raised some concerns about the impact to the public of having 8 continuous days where over-the-counter bank deposits and/or withdrawals could not be serviced.

The peso fell steeply Tuesday, tracking the global equity markets that plunged following a US panel statement that confirmed the world"s largest economy is already in a recession. The peso closed at P49.50 per dollar, sliding by 54 centavos from its close of P48.96 on Friday.

Members of the House of Representatives threw out the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A total of 183 lawmakers voted to uphold the House committee report, which dismissed the fourth complaint against Arroyo as "insufficient in substance." Twenty-one voted "no" and three House members abstained.

Filipino activists in Hong Kong came to life on Tuesday with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"s visit as they raised various issues against her, including policies that are allegedly disadvantageous to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Saying "serious doubts" on the integrity of lawmakers have been put in question following an alleged bribery attempt in one of the hotels in Pasig City last week, two lawmakers have filed a resolution to investigate the incident.

Officials of the Commission on Audit (CoA) and Department of Budget Management (DBM) noted several irregularities in the disbursement of a controversial P728-million fertilizer fund by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante.

The former chief of the Department of Budget and Management on Tuesday questioned former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante's realignment of the P728 million Ginintuang Masaganang Ani funds to project proponents not included in the original list of beneficiaries.

The House committee on Agriculture ordered the arrest of Maritess Aytona, the alleged "runner" of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, after she failed anew to attend the panel's hearing on the P728-million fertilizer fund scandal.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said he was "disappointed" by what he called the seeming inability of the Senate investigation into the so-called P728-million fertilizer fund scam to establish the truth behind the alleged fund diversion.

Efforts to resume to formal peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels bogged down during an informal meeting in Norway last week, with the National Democratic Front (NDF) accusing the government of being "not at all interested in peace negotiations."

Legislators on Tuesday moved to reduce the tax burden on senior citizens and cinema owners, setting aside concerns that doing so would reduce revenues at both the national and local levels. The House ways and means committee approved two measures: one protecting a 20% discount for the elderly and another cutting the amusement tax collected from movie house operators. Both bills will now be up for plenary discussion.

A court dissolved Thailand's top three ruling parties for electoral fraud Tuesday and temporarily banned the prime minister from politics, bringing down a government that has faced months of strident protests seeking its ouster.

China's Health Ministry said six babies may have died after consuming tainted milk powder, up from a previous official toll of three, and announced a six-fold increase in its tally of infants sickened in the scandal to nearly 300,000.

Bantayan raked in a total of six golds in both divisions during the second day of athletics event in the Cebu Provincial Sports and Cultural Festival 2008 at the Liloan Central School track oval. The elementary boys squad got two golds from 400-meter hurdles; 1,500m run; girls 400m hurdles; discus throw; 400m hurdles; and long jump. Minglanilla got gold from discus throw. Daanbantayan and Ginatilan secured one gold each in girls long jump and in the girls 1,500m run. Catmon gained two golds from the 3K run and the 1,500 meter run. Asturias took the women's 1,500m run gold, while Madridejos lorded it over in the women's 400m hurdles. Liloan completed a clean sweep in the girls elementary gymnastics competition. Consolacion broke Liloan's grip of titles by ruling the floor exercise event in the boys elementary division. In secondary gymnastics, Liloan again went home with the top three slots in the individual all around event. Consolacion won the floor exercise event in the boys secondary category.

Oscar de la Hoya saw a statue of his likeness unveiled in front of Staples Center arena while Manny Pacquiao kept a relatively low profile as both boxers prepared to head to Las Vegas for their "Dream Match" megafight. For a change, Manny Pacquiao arrived here in Vegas wearing the underdog tag.

Celebrity couple William Martinez and Ma. Rosario "Yayo" Aguila heaved a sigh Tuesday after the Justice department sided with their daughter's complaint and recommended the filing of charges against actor Baron Geisler.